The kids got red helmets. I got a lesson in putting out an oil fire. And all of us walked away smarter.

At the recent Kiama Fire and Rescue Open Day, I learnt something that could one day save my life: how to safely extinguish an oil fire on the stove. 

Thanks to deputy captain Brian Guillaumier and firefighter Craig Bowley, who walked the crowd through a real-time demonstration, I now know never to throw water on an oil fire. 

If it is safe to do so, smother it with a lid or use a fire blanket.

Turn off the heat.

Stay calm. And always call Triple Zero, even if you think the fire is out. 

Watch the video to see exactly why that final step matters.

It could be the difference between a close call and a catastrophe.

Captain Rhys Dawson and the Kiama Fire and Rescue team have made it their mission to connect with the community, helping residents understand not only how fires behave but also how we can respond calmly and correctly.

Their educational outreach is as important as their frontline service, and the oil fire demo was just one powerful example.

Jamberoo Rural Fire Brigade is also busy sharing life-saving knowledge.

Run entirely by volunteers, the brigade is led by Captain Hannah McInerney and plays a vital role in bushfire response and community education. 

Ian Fergusson, a retired builder who joined the RFS after the 2019 bushfires, was part of the team welcoming children from Jamberoo Preschool for a visit to the station.

“Their eyes lit up the second they saw the truck,” Ian said. “We give them a little red helmet, a goody bag and a turn on the hose, and we teach them how to stay safe.”

The visit included hands-on experiences, and a simple safety talk tailored to young children.

They learnt to crawl under smoke using the unforgettable catch cry: “Get down low and go go go.” 

They were told to meet their family at the letterbox and to memorise their address in case they ever need to call Triple Zero for help.

Volunteers explained that while you never go with strangers, someone in uniform during an emergency is there to help.

In Kiama, Fire and Rescue focus on urban fire emergencies.

The Rural Fire Service focuses on bushfire and rural emergencies.

Both organisations support each other across all the townships within the Kiama LGA, working side by side when needed to protect lives and property.

The goal is early familiarity, so that in a crisis, children are more confident and less afraid.

Some kids are initially hesitant about the hose or the truck, but most quickly warm up once they see their friends doing it. It is learning wrapped in excitement.

Whether they are fielding call-outs or handing out puzzles and red hats to preschoolers, our local firies are keeping us safe in more ways than one.